What Hurricane Sandy Revealed About Mobile Media

“Facebook : the new 1010 wins.” That was a Facebook post from one of my friends Monday during Hurricane Sandy. Amidst the electricity loss, severe property damage, and worse, the one constant for many was mobile news, via Facebook and Twitter. Every few seconds, people received new Facebook posts about power outages, damage, or news about the hurricane progression. By Tuesday, posts shifted to the damage caused by the hurricane, mass transit, and how local, state and federal officials would address it.

Most people had no other way of getting this information other than through a smart phone. The scene was repeated across many homes; people not knowing what was going on outside and being informed through the information received on their phones. Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath represent a shift in news delivery. Here, the younger generation – who tends to have more familiarity with mobile media – was in a better position to gain news and information.

Of particular note, the social media newsfeed was almost all mobile. Many people already get their news from mobile internet, but this was a case where mobile news was a necessity, not a preference. People did not have access to computers, internet, or televisions. Everybody was getting news from phones (and radio to a smaller extent). In this storm, without mobile social media, there could have been information silence for many people at precisely the wrong time.

In the storm’s aftermath, mobile media showed the breadth and potential of its application and proved it is not a fad, but a revolution in information consumption. People used Facebook in order to offer assistance to others. People used Facebook to offer their homes and electricity to those nearby who needed it. The number of people offering to welcome others to come to their apartments in Manhattan through Facebook posts in order to use the shower or in order to have a place to sleep was large – and inspiring. Facebook posts such as “If anyone needs anything let me know” were common. Facebook and Twitter posts also served as a way to post more in-depth news coverage from traditional news sources, such as newspapers. A catastrophe like this usually brings out the best in people; and mobile media platforms like Facebook and Twitter mainly served as a vehicle for good.

Here, the availability of the internet and more importantly mobile devices, was a major positive. If not for mobile internet connections, people would have been in the dark as to what was going on around them. People even flocked to places like Starbucks, banks and supermarkets in order to charge their phones because they serve as the only connection to the news, friends and relatives. Thus, mobile media such as Facebook, Twitter and other websites did serve as the new 1010 wins. With all the negative stories of mobile and social media use, it is refreshing to know that there are many positive applications for it too. The next time you use your iPhone to check Facebook or Twitter, realize that in addition to a social device, it could be the important news source and connection you need in the worst of times as well.